Kant & Categorical Imperatives: Crash Course Philosophy #35

[@RiyadAhmed7]

this channel is the reason im passing ethics

[@tmtm7458]

That not very ethical to your teacher

[@bernadettewesolowski7281]

I agree, sometimes the way the information is given is not as easy to understand and Crash Course has the ability to help everyone understand it.

[@joshuajones888]

5:34 anyone else wondering why Tony had to take a bath at this crucial moment?

[@allgodsmyth7318]

These Crash Course videos are put together so well. The production value, articulate speaker, and condensed subject matter are all fantastic. Wish I had these around back when I was in school. Great stuff... Bravo!

[@Azadbhagatbose]

And by their support i will become bureaucrat soon. They were really awesome.

[@Arzeddirgnirama]

And the animation!

[@karenmluna]

Awesome, The Good Place from Netflix brought me here. That Chidi boy got me going with the ethics and the philosophy. Way to go CrashCourse !!

[@dione6388]

ikr

[@baranxlr]

"I remember you were a phliosopher, but can you tell me your name?" "I. Kant"

[@biggusdickus9652]

XD I laugh so hard, almost spilled my drink XDXDXD

[@baranxlr]

Handoko Widjaja shouldn't have, it's an old joke

[@SeleniumAndroid]

How about "Aye, Kant" for an alternate punchline?

[@kamlarampersaddesilva3679]

lol

[@shelan7058]

😂😂😂😂

[@raylienehwang5195]

I really appreciate these crash course videos. I watch them before my readings, because Philosophy, in my opinion, is very difficult to read.

[@ganjayetipoganomaly5062]

A warm thank you, to each individual involved in this educational production. I greatly appreciate all your efforts towards providing this helpful, and informative resource. Again, thank you all.

[@Joeobrown1]

there's always money in the chom-chom stand

[@TehBurek]

Was searching for this, thank you :)

[@mariakydd]

Thank you good sir, this was needed.

[@MakeMeThinkAgain]

Combining 2 of my favorite things, ethics and Arrested Development.

[@captainharry8953]

well played

[@di3tigni]

This was a beautiful comment, thank you!

[@michaelroy6630]

I thought I had fully grasped the categorical imperative in my class, but I never actually knew that it meant that something that is wrong in one situation is wrong in every situation for all people. Thank you for clarifying this for me, my exam tomorrow will go all the better because of you! :)

[@BarnibusMaximusMusic]

I love Kant. I'm currently reading 'goundwork of the metaphisic of morals'. It really is fantastic and strongly recommend it.

[@navi88888]

watch a 10 mins video save my hours to try find information/explanation online. good job guys!

[@pietrocelano23]

today we have learned, kantian aren't great room mates.

[@61mbok]

why so?

[@mateussilva635]

Matt Bokovitz Elvira is kantian, any bells?

[@pietrocelano23]

Matt Bokovitz hey bro someone is searching for you and wants you dead. he has a gun. don't let him in? bro, it's pretty harsh. would you not let someone in if he was going to die? yes but... YES exactly. he wants to kill me! say that i am not home. Bro lying is bad. killing me is also bad. who cares about you!

[@frostymarbles2655]

@@pietrocelano23 Telling the truth to the murderer would also violate Kant's secondary categorical imperative. Your roommate doesn't think of your own end and only used you to prove his Kantian values.

[@roguedeva4654]

@@61mbok you could tell the truth and also not give them away, like saying "i dont know" because, if hes in another room, he both could be there or couldve left until you check again. honestly just lie though, kants got great ideas but upholding the value of individual life as an ends in themselves seems important and equally in line with kant anyways

[@MagiciteHeart]

I Kant even...

[@haleygold9481]

xD

[@TorquemadaTwist]

Some jokes are im automatic, this was I Immanuel.

[@elyely8949]

Jake Andrews ++++

[@__malte]

Since we are talking about morality and all that, are we finally going to discuss Nietzsche sometime soon?

[@johnarbuckle2619]

Malte Koot THIS !!!!!!!!!!!

[@lupita11alcantar]

Malte Koot I imagine that would be the amoral thing to do.

[@jerden3285]

Probably cover him towards the end. Wasn't he basically in favour of us creating our own morality?

[@The112Windows]

In time my child...

[@justtheouch]

Jordan Warner Somewhat yes, somewhat no. Nietzsche believed that there was no absolutes about morality as we live in a godless society so it was our job to create morality, however he shunned our traditional concepts about ethics as "slave morality," celebrating weaknesses (not being strong enough to take what you want was labelled "humbleness," having a sexless life was "chastity" and so on.) For Nietzsche, we have lived the best life if the prosepct of reliving it for eternity is our own version of heaven. If this were true, we'd be an evolved form of man, an "ubermensch."

[@bolt7881]

Found this while studying for a DSST, this whole series is amazing and really helping with testing out of Ethics in America. Thanks guys.

[@kj6164]

Lool this comment section is just filled with Kant jokes So childish tbh I just Kant stand it

[@harlynarisga6540]

HAHAHAHA I KANTnot😂

[@kamlarampersaddesilva3679]

Yes, but still very funny

[@JosmerMartinez-uo5gw]

I love him, he is helping me to learn both english (I'm seeing his videos as a practice to listen people talking it) and philosophy

[@MidEnginedSedan]

Elivra should tell the truth, always, and say "no." In communication, humans often mean much more than the words coming out of their mouths. In the thought bubble example, the gunman is actually asking "will you help me to kill your husband?" That is the real question being asked, and thus the real answer is "no".

[@muhammadmirshkk1251]

wow, considering how hard Kant is this was one of the best episodes up until now, very well written. great job.

[@DripTheSeawing]

This video taught me more in ten minutes than an entire module of a DE Philosophy course. Thank you Crash Course.

[@billyte1265]

The problem with the way you explained first categorical imperative is that you could choose any level of specificity to say that "that is always what should be done". If you said that anytime someone asked you to help them kill someone, and you then did actions to help prevent that killing, I think that would both fit Kant's first formulation *and* be the right moral thing to do. I think the problem was not being specific enough in that example. The question is not "Should everyone lie?" the question is "should anyone lie in this specific circumstance?"

[@yurik383]

For me, this is the best of the philosopher's arguments you presented.

[@Starcrash6984]

Despite most people agreeing that people should not be "a means to an end", that ends with... children. Our society cares very little for the autonomy or will of our children, and we rationalize by saying "it's for their benefit". But according to Kant's first principal, having "a good reason" to do wrong doesn't make it right. And yet, the social contract that our society (perhaps _all_ societies) made has decided that children don't count as "people we have to act morally towards".

[@gmandurj40]

Supernova Kasprzak that's interesting. I think one could tie that into the crazed gunman at the door scenario. You would be trying to breach his autonomy for his own good (not going to jail for murder).

[@daddyleon]

I would indeed like to see a Kantian defending that.

[@filipfilipovic2974]

I would argue that children, especially young children, are not autonomous, but instead gradually gain autonomy with time.

[@gregoryfenn1462]

Some would argue that children are not fully "persons" yet. The point of being a person, rather an a human or an animal, is that people have the ability to form their own rational goals and ends, and to formulate means to achieve them; while also being able to recognise other people's goals and ends. Children, at least young children, lack the fully formed cognitive skills (logic [to reason], imagination [to form goals], and empathy [to see other people as ends-in-themselves]) to properly be considered people. Arguably.

[@daddyleon]

Gregory Fenn Well if it's about autonomy adn capacity to be logical and think ... mentally handicaped (down syndrome, ABI, dementia, etc. and even young children).

[@Nihilnovus]

All of a sudden I'm reminded of my love for Arrested Development

[@Nihilnovus]

There's always money in the banana stand, no truer words have been stated

[@eliasm8506]

No touching.

[@srpilha]

Her?

[@waschmaschinchen5492]

I've made a huge mistake

[@AndresFirte]

I’m a monster!

[@jarredelijah6803]

You know what? You are the best teacher.. You make stuff more simple and fast and easy to understand! Outstanding work!!

[@Amanda-du3et]

Was struggling with this topic in my religion and philosophy class, just stumbled across these videos and this has helped to simplify it for me. thanks, will check out some of the other ones.

[@matthewrettenmaier4799]

Literally just took a test on this today. You should've posted yesterday

[@Alverant]

Great video! I'm glad you got to Kant and how morals don't need supernatural directives.

[@cheezyyeezy4247]

i have exams in a week, if i pass, it is thanks to this man not any teacher. Thanks Hank!

[@SB-ki3jw]

One problem is if you don't see a certain group as human it allows you to do whatever to them.

[@_Gecko]

My ethics course took two weeks to explain what you just explained in ten minutes

[@Dogsparkster]

Taking an ethics course, this video made it clear. thank you.

[@deecool47]

Are you gonna fully cover Absurdism?

[@johnarbuckle2619]

TheAbsurdist this !!!!!!

[@bigbrother4932]

TheAbsurdist Camus Camus Camus camus Camus Camus Camus Camus Camus Camus Camus Camus Camus camus

[@1503nemanja]

I'm gonna make a guess that is of special interest to you.

[@deecool47]

1503nemanja What gave it away?

[@1503nemanja]

***** Your pic.

[@JamieTecson]

Your videos are saving me for my midterms! Thank you!

[@ScowlieMeerkat]

[Utterly Updated, original below] I was wrong in my complaint about the dumbness of this example. I thought it was CC's fault but the fault lies with Kant. Since the previous example is about a chom-chom (which sounds un-1700s Prussia), and the murderer example was introduced with a "Let's say..." and Kant's first quote therein was clearly not a quote (because "Tony"), I incorrectly assumed that the murderer example was as much a creation of CC as the chom-chom one (presumably?) is. And since it's so dumb and only makes Kant look like a crazy person, I was very wrongly disappointed in CC for including it and so muddying the water. However, as it turns out the murderer at the door example is famously Kant's. I do think CC should have made this clearer, and also acknowledged that it's widely considered a head-scratcher. Google "murderer kant" and the first result is a paper that starts: "Kant's example of lying to the murderer at the door has been a cherished source of scorn for thinkers with little sympathy for Kant's philosophy and a source of deep puzzlement for those more favorably inclined." I'm just saying, maybe point out that this example is problematic. And unclear. And dumb. But still, that's on Kant and not at all on CC. I'm sorry I got mad at you, CC.

[@s0niKu]

Kant's response to the 'murderer at the door' scenario has been touted as one of his weakest positions on morality. There have been a lot of attacks on and defenses of Kant's view of the scenario since he wrote about it, and if you're interested in seeing how people have tried to make sense and improve upon the absurd justification Kant offered himself, I suggest looking around online. It's a popular subject for philosophers and students of philosophy to write about.

[@ShaedeReshka]

So, in ethics there is a division between what is called consequentialism ("the end justifies the means") and deontology (following of moral rules or laws). Kant was a deontologist, which meant that he wasn't overly concerned with the consequences of moral actions. Instead, he cared about the intent of an action. So, in the example Hank gave, Kant would not have put any blame on the woman involved. The blame would have gone entirely to the killer, who was breaking a moral code ("don't kill people"). In the next video, Hank promised to cover utilitarianism, which in many ways was a response to Kant. One of the primary differences is that utilitarianism is strictly consequentialist. Only the consequences of your actions matter. So, in Hank's example, it would have actually been the woman's fault if her attempts to protect the man backfired on her. Hopefully the next video covers this.

[@JM-us3fr]

Scowlie Meerkat His death isn't her fault because she lied. Her lie is her fault. One argument for Kant is that the ends NEVER justify the means, even for something as trivial as a lie. She can defend her friend, maybe even sacrifice herself to protect him, or try to convince the murderer not to murder him, but lying contradicts the whole principle and value of communication: to accurately communicate information. The fact that lying is most people's go-to solution for this problem doesn't mean Kant is wrong, it means people are weak and aren't very willing to be moral. They'll ditch their principles at the drop of a hat.

[@s0niKu]

That is where the intentions and the maxim rules meet. While you may have good intentions about doing something, the test to see whether it is a moral course of action would be to universalize it as a non-contradictory maxim. Similarly, it must not break the rules of moral rules you have already set up. Generally speaking, this is the means by which Kant's philosophy trips up those who would carry out bad actions with good intentions.

[@jonasstrzyz2469]

MechaMarshmallow ¨ Okey, but what makes the maxim rule moral? I mean how do I know that the maxim rule is a guide for what is moral and for what is not?

[@chrisreid986]

Crash Course Philosophy covers all the topics I 'm learning in philosophy elective in college!

[@baguswijaya1286]

1:24 2+2 is four. Minus 1 that's 3 quick maths

[@princeicykeybord]

I think using reason is the best way to be moral. In the example, she couldn’t use reason because she didn’t have the understanding of the situation that happened. Her lying was the wrong action, but it doesn’t make her method wrong just not useful devoid of knowledge.

[@manderse12]

Excellent explanation of a complex philosopher, Hank. Bravo!

[@MakeMeThinkAgain]

The way we use animals would seem to be a case of violating that 2nd expression of the Categorical Imperative, though I doubt Kant would have seen it that way. And the Nazis would have got around the 2nd expression of the CI by defining "human" is a special way. And like the Golden Rule, in particular cases the Primary expression gets tricky for non-omniscient agents because people differ so much.

[@QuantumSeanyGlass]

The way we use animals? There _was_ an entire episode on personhood, and if you consider animals people then I suppose you could say it's violating the 2nd expression of the Categorical Imperative. Your transition into talking about Nazis was a little abrupt; the subject of your previous sentence is the way we use animals, although I'm pretty sure you were talking about the 2nd expression, looking back.

[@MakeMeThinkAgain]

QuantumSeanyGlass Funny, I just realized that and went back and changed it a little bit. Probably not enough.

[@trafalgarla]

@MakeMeThinkAgain Kant didn't think we had any direct duties towards animals because they couldn't reason about morality. Kant did, however, believe you shouldn't be cruel to animals because it could make a person develop cruelty to other people.

[@MakeMeThinkAgain]

Panurge Which at least better than Descartes.

[@amandatena4612]

No mom, I Kant do the dishes. You're using me as a mere means.

[@beardollars]

"Gotta eat to live, gotta steal to eat. Tell you all about it when I got the time!"

[@lauren1779]

This really helped me understand Kant in my class where the prof is no help. I feel confident in writing my essay now. Thank you!!

[@jasongeorgisdaniel]

Tell your professor to teach properly and stop acting like a Kant 😜

[@belengarcia3351]

I lov u HanK, i was depressing about this topic and now i m so happy of finding this video, it encourages me to study harder,.

[@terrbateman3262]

I just discovered CrashCourse and I'm already in love, absolutely love this channel and can't wait to learn more!

[@Stefan1of3]

Love it how you took up the chom-chom thing.

[@jette6886]

I just woke up to find this video and I'm actually gonna write an exam about Kant in less than 2h time! THANK YOU for the perfect timing!! :)

[@The_Reductionist]

I love these videos and study nothing to do with psychology.

[@connorshea9085]

Boby Gandhi I don't see why algae is relevant lol

[@QuantumSeanyGlass]

But _everything_ is related to philosophy.

[@The_Reductionist]

QuantumSeanyGlass My mistake in spelling, but wouldn't this by psychology? study of mind?

[@GelidGanef]

Things _everything_ is related to: philosophy, psychology, sociology, language, narrative, economics, politics, history, biology, and physics. I think that's everything...

[@timhuff]

Mathematics.

[@smikebacts]

My favorite Philosophy.

[@gabrieloconitrillo4141]

I think this is my favorite episode so far

[@myrkwise1281]

"In order to know what is right, you need to use logic." How radical of a statement.

[@vlobben1]

In the thought bubble experiment, her situation made as a universal law isn't properly described as "lie". It is "lie when doing so saves someone you care about's life", which is something I believe most people would be fine with.

[@timothymclean]

If Kant's saying that types of actions are either forbidden or permissible (e.g, "Either you can ALWAYS steal or NEVER steal"), he hasn't thought things through. There needs to be a consideration of the motive for actions (e.g, "Stealing chom-choms because you forgot your wallet is either always or never right").

[@trafalgarla]

That would be part of the maxim. Kant takes the intent of people very seriously because, for Kant, to be moral is to act with a good will. This means that you have to do something like not lie to someone just because you want to be good and not because you dislike the consequences of being caught lying.

[@s0niKu]

Kant cares about motive a great deal, it just wasn't covered in this video.

[@timothymclean]

I kinda guessed there would be a clause like that, but the video made it sound like there wasn't. After all, the examples given discussed morality in terms of stealing/lying/etc, leaving out the circumstances, and the conclusion implied that the actions were more relevant than motives/effects.

[@JM-us3fr]

Timothy McLean I imagine Kant would allow for all three cases, depending on the scenario ALWAYS do A NEVER do B You can sometimes C

[@cr7neymar908]

can someone please tell me why I have to take an ethics class for a computer science degree

[@limeslush1e]

damn i'm only 2 mins into this video and i've already learned more in that time than i have from my first year of philosophy a level

[@xjenniduarte]

I had an exam in the morning and it had a section of Kant and I clearly answered and wrote the definition of categorical imperative wrong! I wish this video was uploaded much more earlier :( Although it covered sections of Shopenhauer, Nietzshe, and Utilitaranism so I did pretty well ig

[@MrJethroha]

weird they didn't start with ancient Greek and Roman virtue ethics

[@LucasRibeiro-po4pb]

So much philosophy they can''t cover in this mini-series. Of course you can/should disagree with their choices, but it's comprehensible. They haven't talked about western philosophy until now, for example, which is a pity, in my opinion.

[@JM-us3fr]

KaiGonGinn They'll probably get it. When I learned ethics, they taught it last

[@TheRedViper100]

KaiGonGinn well they've done natural law, so they will probably go on to do it.

[@brianleng2606]

I think the treatment of Kant's maxim to not lie is a little off, here. Kant would say we shouldn't lie because lying isn't something we want universalized, not because the consequences won't work in our favor. Whether Tony gets shot or not is out of the question. We just shouldn't lie, period, according to Kant.

[@jjlim3768]

Watching this for tomorrow's ethical exams. Nice. KZbin got it's recommendations right

[@Yimbotron]

11/10 reference to Arrested Development.

[@ibsurvivalguide7066]

Even if stealing is a bad action, the imputation grade it receives it is low (not to bad), because as Kant say in his book "Lecciones de ética", if the action was made with a necessity (the necessity of the alimentation, then is not as bad, as the stealing with the purpose of being rich.

[@user-iz7mq6cp6x]

Kant thought like a dam 🤖 robot machine

[@lexhewson949]

Now I can pass my midterm tomorrow, thank you so much!

[@knewledge8626]

I have three rules in life. 1. Don't harm anyone if I can avoid it. 2. Have as much fun as I can without violating rule 1. 3. Help as many people as I can without violating rule 2. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[@zye8355]

Wasn't familiar with Kant's work and categorical imperative, but I operated this line of thinking intuitively. I got to read up on more philosophical works.....

[@g.b.9227]

What if Tony doesn't become curious? What if he never looked out the door? How bout that Kant!?!

[@TRASHLEVIATHAN]

im currently watching all the cc philosophy vids before my philosophy final

[@ThatGuy53297]

"ought to get a job" I've been trying man. It's hard with a Master's degree, should have went into trades.

[@xcaluhbration]

This is why I'm just as much a fan of Principles as Laws.

[@paulstoma4425]

That flash philosophy was great

[@holaisaaa]

Great overview, kept in easy to understand terms for a quite wordy and heavy topic

[@benjaminkuti2009]

lol I love how he uses 'Scarface' as the moral example for ethics

[@CM-ng1ef]

Regarding the scenario with the chom chom stall.... What if one was to narrow the scope of the maxim, stating that perhaps stealing is acceptable only when you are hungry, or only if you made the legitimate mistake of leaving your wallet at home, or even saying you should only steal chom choms, nothing else?

[@miguelsorto280]

You are a blessing sir. We appreciate you greatly.

[@thomasgabby6214]

Another brain tickling episode!

[@danmenard6917]

I Kant believe it.

[@danmenard6917]

discopete117 Still funny either way you say it.

[@taz3468]

as a theology ambassador at my college i will be sending my teacher a link to this video and ask him to show your videos in lesson we watch a dude with really bad camera angles and tbh its not very educational its terrible lolol, Hank youre great thank you

[@ramadanhasani]

Man I love these videos so much. Thank you CrashCourse for providing us with these videos :)

[@RogueBlood343]

7:36 He just explained part of the plot of Drifters

[@tanyaroberts919]

This helped in my term paper, unlike my professor's explanations which turned in circles

[@ajay1rana]

Lie is means to close our boundary, loose faith and future opportunities. So speak the truth and have moral values for words forever

[@estelasteele1173]

These videos have really helped me in my philosophy class. Thank you!

[@jglenister0419]

Are you likely to discuss objectivism? Not because I particularly like Rand and her views, but I feel like it covers ethics and I'd like to see a balanced discussion on it without slogging through Atlas Shrugged

[@WorldEagleKW]

That example in thought bubble, I am thinking, if you categorize lies. For example, level 1 lies: white lies, light lies. Level 2: lies that save lives, level 3 and so on. And by lying a level 2 lie, and according to Kant, thus making making a Level 2 lie universal maxim. Wouldn’t that be ok?

[@hack9]

For all the students out there, this video gives a good overview of Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, but in other works Kant does talk more about God as a source of morality. Just making sure everyone knows.

[@AlipashaSadri]

at 5:23 there is the CC Games tune playing in the background! Nice touch guys :)

[@westinparks9838]

Please do Objectivist Ethics.

[@jebus6kryst]

What? No more theology on this series? Wonderful!

[@慕荣-h8y]

this video helped my presentation a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@alanrose5959]

Watching at 0.5 speed. So good.

[@tessrielgrigori3905]

Wow! everything makes sense now!! Thank you so MUCH for these videos! Greetings from Mexico 💕👀

[@skuttle7107]

Learnt more from this channel than my history class tbh XD

[@CulusMagnus]

Would you be interested in doing a video on the moral theory of Stefan Molyneux called Universally Preferable Behaviour? Or do you only treat subjects accepted by the mainstream?

[@philipposellis2845]

Thanks for saving me and my exams man!

[@NirmalKumar-xw3ko]

8:38 - best expression

[@Creepzza]

It's always bad to lie...that was new to me, I will consider that. "Do I look fat in this?" "Yeah, a lot actually"

[@gilesmiles8458]

Re Elvira: "That which is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil."

[@sweetygupta3979]

Awesome explanation:) thank you!

[@gailcbull]

Kant get enough of those chom-choms.

[@solovetsky8213]

Thanks for this